Signaling attachment for speedometers.



W. J. NORTON. SIGNALING ATTACHMENT POB. SPBEDDMET'ERS. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4,1909.

Patented June 27, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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W. J. NORTON. SIGNALING ATTAUHMENT Fon sPBEDoMETBRs.

APPLIGATN TLED AUG. 4, 1909.

9&9 l 34GB Patented June 27,1911.

IN VEN TOR.

indicating device to which it is attached, will UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM NOIYRIJION, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO H'AMILTON ARMSTRONG, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

SIGNALING ATTACHMENT FOR SPEEDOMETERS'.

Specification o1 Letters Patent. Patented June 27, 1911 Application led August 4, 1909. Serial No. 511,186.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. NORTON, citizen of the United States of America, residing at. Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Attachments for Speedometers, of which the following is a specification.

This' invention relates to a signaling attachment for instruments of' the class known as speedometers or speed-counters which are designed to indicate the speed in miles per hour at which an automobile or other vehicle` is propelled, by counting and recording the number of revolutions made in a given time,

by a wheel thereof.

The object of my invention resides in the provision of a mechanism of simple construction which, in coperation with the pointer or other movable part of the speedaudibly notify of an increase of speed of the vehicle beyond a determinate number -of miles per hour, which number is visibly displayed upon an elevated signal associated with said mechanism.

The attachment includes a plurality of.

members which vin cooperation with a part of the mechanism with which they are associated, provide an adjustment whereby the element by which the alarm is sounded may be positioned so as to be `operated at any selected one of a number of different rates of speed indicated by the instrument with which the attachment is connected,

My invent-ion is particularly adapted .for use on vvehicles in municipalities in which certain speed limits are prescribed by ordinancefor differentlocalities, as it compels the operator to display the maximum rate of speed at whichhe is allowed to travel, by a signa-l visible to observers along the road over which the vehicle is propelled, vwhile increase of speed beyond said rate will be audibly announce by the before mentioned automatically operating alarm.

I attain the above named objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in the various views of which likel` parts are similarly designated and in which- Figure-1, represents a plan view of a. speed-ind1cating instrument provided with my` attachment, Fig`."2,` a face-view thereof, Fig, 3, a perspective view of the blade by which the selected rate of speed is visibly indicated, Fig. 4, a section taken along the lme 4 4 Fig. 2, Fig. 5, a transverse section taken along the line 5 5 Fig. 1, Figy, a similar section taken along the line (5e-6 Fig. l, and Fig. 7, a fragmentary section taken along the line 7-7 Fig. .2, drawn to an enlarged scale. j

Referring to the drawings by numerical reference characters, let the numeral 5, indicate the cylindrical casing of a speed-indicating instrument, 6 the therewith associated dial and 7 the pointer which, by connection withthe .operating mechanism of the instrument, denotes on agraduated scale 8. printed on said dial, therate of speed in miles per hour, at which the vehicle with which the instrument is connected, is propelled. L

My improved signaling attachment comprises an arc-shaped element 9 composed of liber or other insulating material which is disposed upon the dial in proximity to the circular .scale 8, and which is adapted to move through an arc lof predetermined length, in concentric relation thereto.

The member 9, is provided with two longitudinally extending separated, metallic contact plates 10 which are embedded in its upper surface, and the pointer 7 carries a roller 12 or other contact device which is adapted to simultaneously engage the two plates 10 Jfor the purpose of completing an electric circuit of which said plates are the terminals. The circuit above referred to, is composed of two lexible conductors, 13 which project through an opening in the casing 5, to separately connect with the plates 10 andwhich constitute the electrical connections between a source of electricity `14: and an "electric gongl. Y To move the elementt) to any selected one of a plurality of determinate positions, and

4to.simultaneously display `by, means of a signal, the point of the scale at lwhich said element Will be engaged by the pointer so as to close the electric circuit and sound the alarm, I provide a sleeve 16 which is revolubly mounted upon the cylindrical casing and which is rigidly connected with the element 9 by means of arms 17, which project l through an arcuate slot 18 in the dial 6.

Revolubly mounted in correspondingly formed depressions'in t-l'ie peripheral surface of the sleeve 16, are al plurality ot rings, 19, which, with the exception ot the first one, 2O are provided with longitudinally: `extendf ing slots 19a.

Secured upon the peripheralsurtace ot the sleeve 16, are stops 21, 22 and 2B which project, respectively, through'the'slots 19L of the rings 19 and are disposed at distances from a central longitudinal yline at the top of the sleeve, proportionate tothe arcuate The blades 35 are'preterably composed:

of two or more members connected by hinges,

so that in the retracted position ot the arm 24, they may be folded vto occupy a small space, While When said arm is in the vertical or projected position, they are manually' opened to render the number visible trom different directions. y

The rotatory movement oi the rings 19 and the `therewithconnected arms 24: is limited to a. quadrant arc, by means oit stops 26, and 27 which projecting from the casing 5 in parallel relation to its axis are respectively engaged by the arms 21 When in a horizontal or vertical position.

A handle 16 projecting outwardly from the circumferential surface of the ring 16, is in the operationl of the invention employed to return said ring and the therewith connected member 9. to their normal position prior 4to their adjustment from one rate of speed to another.

Having thus vdescribed the mechanical construction of my attachment, its operation y. Wm be readily understood.

lllheii theelement 9 is iii its normal position, one of its extremities 9l is opposite a point on the scale 8, a short distance beis premi-ll yond that indicating a speed of 6 miles per hour which in this instance, is supposed to be the highest rate at Whi h the vehicle is permitted to be propelled, 'l'lhc arm 21 ot the ring 20 is, at the same time, placed in. the vert-ical position shown in Fig. Q, so as to conspicuously display the blade at its Vupper extremity which carries the ligure 6 corresponding With that on the scale. The other arms are in the retracted horizontal position, supported upon the stop 26, as shown iii the same figure. New, when the speed of the vehicle is increased beyond the 6 mile pei hour limit, the pointer 12 will engage the contact plates 10 of the element, thereby closing the electric circuit and consequently sounding the alarm 15 until the speed is reduced to a rate ot 6 miles or less.

lf it is desired to impel the vehicle at a higher rate ot speed, toi1 example 12 miles per hour, the operator first moves the arm 24 on the ring- 2O to the horizontal position after which he rotates the ring 19 correspending with the selected speed limit, through a quadrant arc or until thc arm is perpendicular and engages the stop 27. During the rotatory moven'iciit ot the ring 19, the end oi its slot 19, engages the stop 22 on the sleeveA 16 with the result that the latter and the therewith connected clement 9, are moved about their axis through an arc proportionate to the distance between the numbers 6 and 1Q on the graduated scale 8. The end 9a of the element 9 being thus posiA tioned a short distance beyond the point oi the scale indicative of a speed ot 12 miles per hour, the alarm 15 Will be sounded only when said rate is exceeded.

To adjust thc mechanism for a loiver or a higher rate of speed, for example 18 miles per hour, the arm 24. on thering 19, corresponding 'with the 12 mark on the scale, is lowered, and the sleeve 16 and the therewith associated element 9-ai'e returned to their original position by manipulation of the handle 16, after which the ring correspond ing with the 18 miles per hour point on the scale, is rotated by raising the therewith connected arm 'from the horizontal to the vertical position. rThe stop 23 which, during this movement, is engaged by the end oit the slot 19, causes the sleeve 16 to move through an arc of sufficient length 'to bring the end 9a of the element 9 opposite the 18 point on the scale.

Although the arrangement and proportions of the various members comprised iii my improved signaling mechanism, may bc varied Within the spirit of my invention, it is preferable that the length ot the arms 211 and the size of the blades at their upper ends, are such that the latter when in a ffl variable in accordance with the construcion commev 3 verticai--'- position, will be conspicuously displayed, as'foi" instance, above the hood at the front of, an automobile, and the numbers upon said blades will be clearly visible at a considerable distance. As the construction of such protective lmeans isobvious and of the vehicle and the location of the sp edindicating device, it has not been shown in the drawings.' v 'y e Having thus described my invention what I claim and "desire to secure by Letters Patent is: i l

l. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a speed indicating instrument including a dial having an arcuate, graduated scale, of an electric alarm, an element carryingtwo insulated arcuate contact plates in a circuit with said alarm, said element being movably mounted on said instrument with the two contact plates in concentric relation to said scale, means for ad# justing the position of said elementso that corresponding extremities of the contact plates at one endthereof may be brought in radial alinement with said scale, apointer pivotally-mounted on said dial and a contact device associated with said pointer and adapted to simultaneously engage the two Contact plates so as to close the circuit in which they are located. 2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a speed-indicating instrument including adial having a graduated scale yand a on said dial, of a contact-device carried by said ointer, an electric alarm, an element carrying insulated arcuate contact-platesin a circuit therewith and adapted to be simultaneously engaged by said devicels'aid element being movable about a center coincident with the pivotal center of said pointer, means for adjusting the position of said element so that corresponding extremities of said plates are-in radial alinement with any one of a number of'selected points in said scale, and indicatory `devices 4operatively connected 'with said means, whereby the position of said element relative to the scale, t yilndicated faty av point remote 'from said 3. In an apparatusof the class described, the combination with a'speed-indicatinginstrument including a dial having a graduated scale and a'pointer 'pivotally mounted on said dial, of a member revoluble about an axis coincident with that of said pointer, an element connected with said member, disposed upon said dial and having insulated contactplates, an electric alarm in a circuity with said plates, a contact"device on said pointer adaptedy tol simultaneously engage' an axis coincident with that of said any graduation ofpointer ypivotallly mounted said plates'so asto close thecircuit; a means adapted to move said member through. an

are of predetermined lengthfwhereby corresponding ends of said, contact-plates are brought in radial alinement with a selected point in said scale, and az-signal carried by said means whereby the osition of said element` relative to said sca e, is indicated. at a point remote from the dia 4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination wit-h a speedindicating instrument inclu-ding a dial having a graduated Scaleand a pointer pivotallyfmounted on said dial, of a. member revoluble about inter, an element vconnected with said mem er, disposed upon said dial and having insulated contact-plates, an electric alarmin a circuit with said'plates, a contact deviceon said pointer adapted to simultaneously engage said plates so as to-close the circuit, a plurality of operating devices operatively connected with said member to separately move the same through arcs of predetermined lengths, whereby corresponding ends of said contact plates are brought in radial alinement with a selected one of, a number of 'predetermined points in said scale and signals carried. by said operating devices, where bythe position of said element relative to said scale, is indicated yat a point remote from vthe dial.

5. In an' apparatus of the class described, the combination with a speed indicating instrument including a cylindrical casing, a dial having a graduated scale, at one end thereof and a pointer pivotally mounted on said dial, of a r sleeve revolubly surroundin said casing, an element connected with saisleeve disposed upon said dial and having insulated contact plates, an electric alarm acircuit with said plates a contact device onsaid pointer' adaptedy to simultanegusly engage said plates so as to closeI the circuit, 4a ring revoluble u on said sleeve through an arc of predetermlned length, and coperative means on saidI ring and said sleeve whereby the movement of the former is communicated to the .latter so as to bring corresponding extremities of the contact plates in radial alinement point in said scale.. i

6. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a speed indicating instrument including al cylindrical casing, a dial having a graduated scale, at one end thereof, and a pointer pivotally mounted on said dial, of a sleeve revolublysurrounding said casing, an element connected With saidl sleeve, 'disposed upon said dial and having insulated contactk plates, an electric alarm in` a circuit with ysaid plates, a contact device with 'a Selected `stiiment including `avcyli'ndrical casing, a

dial -having a graduated scale, at one end thereof,'and a pointer pivotally mounted on said dial, of asleeve'revolubly surroundingsaidfcasing, an element connected with said sleeve,`disposed upon said dial and having insulated contact plates, an electric alarm in a circuit with said plates, a contact device on said pointer adapted to simultaneously engage said plates so asrto close the circuit, a ring revoluble upon said sleeve through an arc of predetermined length, c0- opeiative'means on said ringgand said sleeve whereby movement of the former is communicated to the latter so as to bring corresponding extremities Aot' the contact-plates in radial alinement with' a Aselected point in said scale, and a signal carried by said ring whereby the position of said element rela- 4tive to said scale is indicated at a point remote from the dial.

S. Inan apparatus of the class described, the combination with a speed indicating instrument including a cylindrical casing, a dial having' ya graduated scale, at one end thereof and a pointer pivotally mounted on said dial, of a sleeve, revolubly surrounding said casing, ran element connected with said sle'e'v'edisposed upon said dial and having l insulated contact plates, an electric alarm in 'a :circuit with said plates, a contact device on' said pointer adapted to simultaneously engage lsaid plates so as to close the circuit, a ringrevoluble upon said sleeve through anv arc of predetermined length and having a longitudinal slot,rand a pin on said sleeve piojectingthrough said slot and disposed to be engmg'ed by an end thereof at a predetermined point in the movement of said ring.

9., In an apparatus ofthe class described,

A' the'conibination with a` speedindicating instiument"including a cylindrical casingya dial having a graduated scale, at one end thereof and aA pointer pivotally mounted on said dial, of sleeve revolubly surrounding said casing, an element connected with said sleevel disposed upon said dial andphaving` insulated contact lplates, an electric alarm in a circuit with said plates, a contact device on; said pointer adapted to simultaneously engage said plates so as to close the circuit, a ring revoluble upon said sleeve through an arc of predetermined length, coperative means on said ring and said sleeve whereby movement of the former is communicated to the latter so as to bring corresponding extremities of the contact-plates in radial alinement with a selected point in said scale and an arm radially projecting from said ring and carrying at its extremity a signal indicative of the position of said element relative to said scale.

l0'. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a speed-indicating instrument including a dial having a graduated scale and a pointer pivotally mounted thereon, of an element movable on saiddial and having insulatedconta-ct plates, an electric alarm in a circuit with said plates, a contact device on the pointer adapted to simultaneously engage said plates so as to close the circuit, means for moving said element to a selected point in said scale, and a signal operatively connected with said means whereby the position of said element relative to said sca-le is indicated at a point remote from the dial.

l1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a speed-indicating instrument, of an electric circuit, an alarm included therein, coperative contact members adapted to close said circuit when in engagement, one of `said members being carried upon an operating part of said instrument, means for adjusting the other member to any one of a plurality of predetermined positions in the path of the first named member, and a signaling appliance connected with said means whereby the position of said member relative to a fixed point on said instrument is indicated at a point remote therefrom.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a speed indicating instrument, of an alarm, a member connected with an operating part of said instrument, a second member adjustable in the path of the first named member to be operatively engaged thereby, means actuated by the engagement of said members, to sound the alarm, and a signaling appliance operatively connected with the adjustable member whereby its position relative to a fixed point on the instrument is indicated at a point remote therefrom.

13. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a speed indicating instrument including a dial having a graduated scale and a pointer pivotally mounted P thereon, of a contact device, movable to correspondwithA a selected point on said scale,

an electric alarm in an electric circuit with the said device, a Signaling a pliance operatively connected with the said device and constructed to indicate its position relative to the scale at a point remote therefrom, and means connected with said pointer and constructed to engage said contact device so as to close the circuit in which it is located.

14. In an apparatus of the class described, t-he combination with a speed indicating instrument, of an electric circuit, 'an alarm included therein, coperative contact members adapted to close said circuit when in engagement, one of said members being operatively connected with an operating part of said instrument while the other member is adjustable to a selected position in the path of the other member, and a signaling appliance operatively connected with the adjustable member whereby its position relative to a fixed point on the instrument is indicated at a point remote therefrom.

ntestimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' WILLIAM J. NORTON. l/Vitnesses M. L. Girmi', F. H. Cono.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

- Washington, C. 

